Wangaratta Greyhound Racing Club manager Neville Tait estimated 85 breeders with about 1000 dogs lived in the Border and North East region.

He said a decision to axe race meetings in Wangaratta from June 26 would force most of those out of the industry.

“The only other place we can race now is at Shepparton, but all the Geelong trainers already race there as well,” Mr Tait said.

“If you send all of the Wangaratta district trainers to Shepparton as well there will be too many entries and none of the dogs will get a run.

“If the dogs aren’t getting a run every week, there’s no point training them so they’ll be put into the greyhound adoption scheme.

“But there’s no way they’ll find new owners for 600 dogs — they’ll have to be put down.”

GRV confirmed its decision at a board meeting on Tuesday, with chairman Jan Wilson blaming a lack of support for the industry’s demise.

“The decision to end racing at Wangaratta is an extremely difficult one, but it comes after regular and ongoing discussions with the council, industry and community representatives about the need for a partnership to rebuild or relocate the track,” she said.

“Since 2007 we have been trying to get support to unblock the constraints at Avian Park and win support for a joint-capital investment.”

But Wangaratta chief executive Doug Sharp has rejected the suggestion the council contributed to the outcome.

“The total lack of any definitive proposal about the redevelopment of facilities at Avian Park, or any other site in Wangaratta, that would allow funding consideration by any level of government leads us to conclude that GRV have their own agenda about the future of greyhound racing in North East Victoria,” he said.

“Sadly Wangaratta doesn’t appear to be on that agenda.”

Member for Murray Valley Ken Jasper also dismissed Ms Wilson’s comments as “misleading” and said he would continue to fight to keep greyhound racing in the city.

“I will be seeking to undertake personal discussions with Racing Minister Rob Hulls during the sitting of parliament next week,” he said.

- Editorial — page 20